The Finnish scene is undoubtedly one of the most developed in the world , and thanks to its existence we can experience the music of  many bands that are unique in sound and that captivate our whole being with their musical signature, regardless of stylistic characteristics.

TENHI is a name that automatically evokes a lot of associations in the mind, the most overwhelming of which is the sound of all-consuming melancholy – that melancholy capable of launching you into another time and space in a very natural and profound way.

The Finnish shamans traverse the dark shores of the Isle of the Dead, blurring all lines in terms of style, combining a neo-folk, dark rock, folk rock and  ambient sound in their music.
As a result of this bold and creative combination, from their very first recording in 1997 (the demo „Kertomuksia“), the band managed to stand out strongly among the sea of artists and present their folklore tales through a really fine prism that gradually conquered many fans around the world.

When the musicians went into hiatus after the release of their last album „Saivo“ in 2011, few believed in the possibility of TENHI’s beautiful fairytale continuing anytime soon. But here, quite surprisingly, the musicians boldly embark on their adventure behind the veil once again, drawing us all into their bittersweet story.

The sixth chapter of TENHI’s adventure is titled „Valkama“ and will be released on June 9th through Prophecy Productions.The fifteen tracks (twelve on the classic release and three more bonus tracks on the deluxe artbook edition) with a little over an hour total duration make a strong case for diving into very dark and deep waters, for self-forgetfulness of the highest kind.

„Valkama“ translates from Finnish as „harbor“ or „shelter,“ among other meanings, with the Finns originally beginning a tale of a dark journey conceived as a tale of a burning, war-torn village and the passage of the souls of the fallen through dark waters to the island of the dead.

In Finnish folklore, the island is called Verisurma („the place for those who have suffered death by bloodshed“), where those killed in war or other violent means live, and continue to spill their blood on its shores forever. The grim tale of the journey to this island is definitely something awe-inspiring in itself as an idea, and its execution requires, you guessed it, a unique approach – something that is part of TENHI’s nature.

During the ten years in which TENHI worked on the album, our reality also began to bleed along with the one in  the otherworld, and also  was shrouded with its own horrors and wars. Year after year, the musicians say , they began to feel their story becoming more and more realistic, until it came to the point where the band decided to change course on the album.

As the label itself states, „Valkama“ comes with the characteristic Finnish longing and melancholy, but despite its distinct darkness, TENHI offers a musical way out of the horrors of the modern world. In the twilight world of the North , „Valkama“ is the silver lining on the horizon, promising shelter and peace.

The album begins in typically cinematic way – the song „Saattue“, which is also the longest track on the album, takes us gently into the shores of Verisurma with melancholic  haunting humming and a gentle, calm harmonic classical instrumental. Vocal performances of this type in such a combination are not only capable of bringing chills to the listener’s skin and spine, but also bring a majestic sense of total serenity and beauty.

The song gradually gives way to the soulful vocals of Tyko Saarikko , which mark the beginnig  of  the tale of „Valkama“ and the convoy’s departure to the depths of the  dark waters.
The moments when the song’s chants and vocals intertwine are synonymous with magic,and it is undoubtedly accentuated by the dynamic instrumental, in which the piano, violin, the percussions and all the other instruments alternate in the foreground.
The piano inclusions, in particular, add a specific note to the recording that contrasts with and accentuates the melancholy of the vocals.
And initially starting with a certain lugubrious atmosphere, with a darker expression of the album’s essence, „Saattue“ gradually picks up pace and the journey takes a bolder and more sensual direction.

TENHI’s classic work is evident again with the very first track, and this time the layers seem to me much more carefully thought out and beautifully combined than in previous releases, which is normal when you take into account the length of time it took to create „Valkama“. Everything seems to have been polished to perfection and sounds like it was pulled out of a music box from the afterlife that you found in your sleep.

 

 

The second song from the album, „Kesävihanta'“ , whose name symbolises the leafades, continues towards an even more serene atmosphere, still retaining at its core a dose of beautiful despondency, its hallmark undoubtedly being the intertwining of the thick low vocals with the higher-pitched singing in the background.
There’s also a specific sense of purity and innocence brought to the song, which oozes from Paula Rantamäki’s childlike-sounding ethereal vocals, melancholically crooning from time to time amidst the soundscapes.
Melancholy, innocence, depth clothed in sound – no words could adequately describe it.

And all of these sonic mirages are perfectly complemented by Tyko Saarikko’s traditionally drawn cover art,
depicting down to the last detail the dark touches planned at the beginning of the work for the album, combined with the contrasting colours and the longing for hope and peace , for purity of spirit, found as a symbol in the white water lilies around the sinking boat – flowers that are still known today as the „flowers of light“.

In each of the other sonic pages of the story , told by the musicians, a number of surprises and moments that subdue the ear can be found, as the folklore elements in the instrumental deepen with the third song of the album, „Valkama“, with which a certain change in its mood occurs. The song is about the journey beyond the boundaries of reality , beyond to the other side where the traveller is welcomed and greeted with joy.
With that said, the dynamics in the album take a path of hope with „Valkama“, gently moving away from the more sorrowful melancholy strongly palpable in the previous two tracks, revealing to us a new direction from our wandering through the deep waters, where the variety of evoked emotions and compositional conceits undoubtedly leads to dreamlike moments.

And its end, besides arriving imperceptibly, is more than inspiring.
The last song on the album , „Aina sininen aina“, which translates to „Always blue, always“, begins with soaring female vocals, again sounding as innocent as they did in the second song, leaving their tinge of purity throughout the piece. Sounding like a haunting hymn to the light, the song puts an illuminating end to the journey on the other side… leaving the listener speechless.

And after the long wandering, there is silence. Complete stillness.

 

In case you haven’t listened to any of the already revealed songs from the album, you can do so below:

 

 

Orders for the album can be made at http://lnk.spkr.media/tenhi-valkama, and if you want to keep up to date with the band’s activities, you can follow their official Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/Tenhiband) or check out their website https://utustudio.com from time to time.